Track and track-support for elevated cycle-railways



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-.Sheet 1.

.l VV.E[.1\M&R'II1\I.4 TRACK AND TRACK SUPPORT FOR BLEVATBDCYCL'BRAILWAYS.

No. 599,855. Patented Mar. l, 1898K.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. H. MARTN. A TRACK AND TRACK SUPPORT TCR BLEVATED CYCLE RAILWAYS. No.599,855. l'ateluted Mar. l, 1898.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE..

wILLIAM H. MARTIN, yor MOBILE, ALABAMA.

TRACK AND TRACKSUPPO`R" I FOR ELEVATED CYCLE-RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,855, dated March 1,1898. Application le. November 5, 1897. Serial No. 657,546. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mobile, in the county of Mobile and State of Alabama, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Tracks and Track-Supports forElevated Cycle-Railways, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tracks and ltracksupports for elevatedcyclerailways, and has for its object to 'provide an improvedsecurely-stiffened overhead track for cycles from which a carriage issuspended beneath and at one side of the elevated track.

The invention consists in features of construction and novelcombinations of parts in an elevated railway. for cycle and suspendedcarriages, as hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure l is anisometric perspective of my improved elevated cycle-railway, showing acarriage thereon. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same with one track-railbroken away.l Fig. 3 is an enlarged part sectional detail sideelevationof one of the rail-supporting brackets and pole cross-arm. Fig.4 is a horizontal section of the same with the rail in part horizontalsection. Fig. 5 is a part sectional side elevation of rail-supportingbracket for spreaders or track-ties. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section ofthe same. Fig. 7 is an enlarged viewr of the upper part of one of thetrack-supporting posts. Fig. Sis a horizontal section of a post on theline 8 8 ofV Fig. 7,

showing in plan view the ring or collar for attachment of stays. Fig. 9is an enlarged end view of a track-rail.

By reference toI Fig. 1 it will be seen that the elevated railway isprimarily supportedl by means of a series of posts or upright poles 1,irmly planted in the ground at suitable intervals-say thirty feet apart,more or less. These posts may be rectangular in cross-section or of anyother convenient form. To an upper portion of each post or upright l, ata suitable distance from the ground, there is firmly secured a cross-arm2,which willhave a length approximately the required distance betweentwo track-rails to be supported at opposite ends of the severalcross-arms.

At their opposite ends each cross-arm 2 has secured thereto arail-supporting bracket 3, which is constructed to closely embrace thesides of the cross-arm and proj ect horizontally and laterally beyondthe same in the longitudinal direction of said cross-arm. As shown inFigs. 3 and 4, each bracket 3 comprises two parallel side-arms 4,between which the end of the cross-arm 2 is received. The outer ends ofthese parallel bracket-arms 4 project beyond the end of the cross-arm 2and are formed integral with a bracket cross-bar 5, preferably of suchlength that its ends will project beyond the said parallel bracket-arms4 and at right angles therewith, as shown. The bracket-arms 4 aresecured to the cross-arm 2 by means of transversely-arranged bolts 6,with nuts 7 thereon, as in Figs..3 and 4. The cross-bars 5 of thebrackets 3 afford supporting attachment for the track-rails 8, which aresecured to said brackets by means of bolts 9 and nuts 10, Figs. 3 and 4,in a convenient and durable manner. By extending the bracket-armsvbeyond the ends of the post cross-arms 2, as shown, sufficient space isafforded for inserting and removing the railattaching bolts and nutswithout disturbing the brackets.

In attaching the track-rails S to the crossarm brackets 3 it ispreferable to have said rails break joints at about thecenter of eachbracket cross-bar 5, and the joint should be braced by a fish-plate 1lon the outer side of the rails.V It is preferable to employ doubleheadedtrack-rails 8 of the character illustrated in Figs. 3, 5, and 9, thesaid rails being flanged both at their top and bottom edges. Thisconstruction of rail provides facilities for more secure connection withthe bracketbars 5 and fish-plates 11 in smoothly uniting the rail-jointsand securing the track to its elevated supports. By reference to Figs.3, 5, and\9 it will be seen that the web and flanges of a rail 8 formwith each other the right-angled shoulders l2, Fig. 9, that firmly bracethe fish-bars and bracket cross-bars, which are each of the same widthas the vrail-webs, and consequently tit closely between the rail flangesor heads.

For the purpose of giving great stiffness to IOO the track and bracingthe rails 8 against lateral strain atpoints equidistant between any twouprights 1 and their attached cross-arms 2 there are provided spreadersor tracleties 13, Fig. 1, having rail-attaching brackets 1i, Figs. 5 andG, secured to their opposite ends. These tie-brackets 1i are similar tothe crossarm brackets 3 hereinbefore described. Each bracket 1i has anintegral cross-bar 15, to which a central portion of a track-rail Sisbolted.

The top of each upright 1 is preferably made cylindrical, as shown inFigs. 7 and S, the better to have itted thereon a metallic band orcollar 1G of annular forni. A number of Vertical grooves 17 are formedin the upper cylindricai part of each post or upright l immediatelywithin the collar 1G and extending above and below the same. Thesegrooves 17 afford passage for the upper ends of galvanized metallicstay-wires IS and 1f), Figs.

"1, 2, and 7, that are thus passed around and secured to the band orcollar 16 on each post. The lower ends of the wire stays 18 are securedto eyebolts 20, Fig. 5, fastened in the end portions et the spreaders orcross-ties 13, while the stay-wires 19 have their lower portions securedto the ends of the post crossarms 2 and may be provided with extensions21, Fig. 1, leading downward and secured to each post below itscross-arm. In each of these stay-wires there is provided a turnbuckle 22for straining the wires, and it will be observed that the severalturnbuckles are iocated in such proximity to the track as to rpermit ofready access from a repair-car, so

that there will be no diilcnlty in iining up the track. The top of eachupright 1 is pro* vided with a conical metallic cap 23 to protect thepost or upright and its grooves and stay attachments from the weather.

This elevated railway aiords two securelybraced track-rails S forpassage by each other in opposite directions of suspendedcycle-carriages having the general construction embraced in myPatentsNos. 559,298 and 575,611 and in my allowed application, Serial No.(3i-2,826.

The cycle-carriage comprises a yoke-frame 2i, Figs. 1 and 2, suspendedfrom the axles of traction-wheels 25, that are adapted and arranged torun one after the other on a single track-rail. The cycle-frame carriesguidewheels 2G, Fig. 1, engaging the under head or iiange of thedouble-headed track-rail 8 to assist in holding the cycle on the track,and there is also provided a track-brake 27 for controlling the speed ofthe cycle and to assist in stopping when desired. This brake may beoperated by means of a cord 2S, suspended in reach of an operator seatedin the carriage, which is supported in the lower part of the cycle-frameand beneath the overhead track. A latticed guard 29 may surround theseats for safety of the passengers. Although I have shown the cycle asarranged to be propelled by means of pedals 30, geared with the axle ofa traction-wheel, it will be obvious that some other suitable motivepower may be conveniently and economically provided. The suspendedcycle-carriage may be furnished with one or more seats 31 and with anawning support or frame 32, if desired, or it may be arranged forcarrying freight.

The structure of elevated cycie-railway is simple, durable, and entirelysafe and convenient, and it is adapted to a variety of purposes whetherfor trafiic or amusement.

What I claim as my invention is-n 1. In an elevated cycle-raiiway, thecombination of a series ot uprights or posts each provided with acrossarm, a bracket bolted to each end of each cross-arm and extendedbeyond the same in. the longitudinal direction of the cross-arm,double-headed track-raiis having their ends jointed at and bolted tosaid brackets, lish-plates for said joints, and wire stays secured to anupper portion of each upright and to the ends of the cross-arms andprovided with tnrnbuckles located in prox imity to the track,substantially as described.

2. In an elevated cyclesrailway, the combination of a series of uprightsor posts each provided with a cross-arm, a bracket bolted to each end ofeach cross-arm and extended beyond the same in thelongitudinal directionof the cross-arm, donbleheaded track- 'ails having their ends jointed atand boited to said brackets, fish plates for said joints, spreaders ortrack-ties equidistant between the uprights and having their endsprovided with brackets to which the central portions of the track-railsare bolted, wire stays secured to upper portions of the uprights and tothe ends of said cross arms or brackets and trackties, and turnbuckleslocated in said stays adjacent to the track-rails, substantially asdescribed.

3. In an elevated cycle-railway, the combination of a series of uprightsor posts each having its upper end provided with vertical grooves, aband or collar secured to each post over said grooves, the postcross-arms having brackets secured to their opposite ends, the doubleheaded trackrails jointed at and bolted to said brackets, the track-tiesequidistant between said posts and having their ends provided withbrackets to which the central portions of the track-rails are bolted,wire stays having their upper ends secured to the band or collar of apost at the vertical grooves in said post and having their lower endssecured to the ends of the cross arms or brackets and track-ties,respectively, and turnbuckles located in said stays adjacent to thetrack-rails, substantially as described.

4. In an elevated cycle-railway, the combination of a series of uprightsor posts each having its upper end provided with vertical grooves, aband or collar secured to each post over said grooves, a-metallic capfor the top of each post, the post cross-arms having brackets secured totheirl opposite ends, the doublc- IOO IIO

headed track-rails jointed at and bolted to In testimony whereof I havehereunto set said brackets; the track-ties, and Wire stays my hand inpresence of two subscribing Witconnecting the ends of the post crossarms or nesses.

brackets and the ends of the track-ties With WILLIAM II. MARTIN. 5 thecollars on said posts, each stay being pro- Witnesses:

vided with a turnbuckle located adjacent to WM. L. BAKER, J 1*.,

the track, substantially as described. n 1 v WM. P. BURGETT.

